Peter M. Eick
Member
I have started my investigation into max loads in the 357 magnum. I was out experimenting with the following 2400 max loads yesterday. All were loaded up with 158 grn MBC Lead SWC's and cci550 primers. These were all old work ups so I just tried them out with two Ruger Redhawks.
Since these are all book max loads, I will rely on your ability to look up the details and won't post the standard disclaimer.
I was shooting max loads (low to high) for:
Hornady 9
Speer 14
Lasercast 1
Speer 8
Speer 3
It was interesting to shoot. Hornady 9 was weak with a fair amount of unburned powder. Up to Lasercast 1, I could turn the guns over and not even hit the ejector and have the brass fall out. It was not until Speer 8 that I had to routinely even touch the ejector and the max load of Speer 3, it required a light touch for the brass to drop out.
What is always interesting to me is how wimpy modern load data is compared to the gusto of older data. While I am sure Hornady and modern Speer are to current accepted standard. It sure makes the 357 Magnum less of a magnum then Speer 8 and 3 or original ammo made it.
While I would not fire these in my Python or my Pre-27's, the Ruger Redhawk liked them with no issues. I will say my observation is that accuracy seemed to increase up to about Speer 8 levels, I started leading the barrel and I could not tell after that. I did not clean them often enough but I was reasonably pleased right up to the last shot.
So my path forward is to recreate all my book max loads regardless of vintage and chrono each one of them. My design goal now is at least 1450 out of the 7.5" Redhawk which would be roughly equal to 1515 which I got from vintage 357 Magnum out of my 8 3/8" pre-27. This will take me a while to do, but I see another long chrono session in the future.
Since these are all book max loads, I will rely on your ability to look up the details and won't post the standard disclaimer.
I was shooting max loads (low to high) for:
Hornady 9
Speer 14
Lasercast 1
Speer 8
Speer 3
It was interesting to shoot. Hornady 9 was weak with a fair amount of unburned powder. Up to Lasercast 1, I could turn the guns over and not even hit the ejector and have the brass fall out. It was not until Speer 8 that I had to routinely even touch the ejector and the max load of Speer 3, it required a light touch for the brass to drop out.
What is always interesting to me is how wimpy modern load data is compared to the gusto of older data. While I am sure Hornady and modern Speer are to current accepted standard. It sure makes the 357 Magnum less of a magnum then Speer 8 and 3 or original ammo made it.
While I would not fire these in my Python or my Pre-27's, the Ruger Redhawk liked them with no issues. I will say my observation is that accuracy seemed to increase up to about Speer 8 levels, I started leading the barrel and I could not tell after that. I did not clean them often enough but I was reasonably pleased right up to the last shot.
So my path forward is to recreate all my book max loads regardless of vintage and chrono each one of them. My design goal now is at least 1450 out of the 7.5" Redhawk which would be roughly equal to 1515 which I got from vintage 357 Magnum out of my 8 3/8" pre-27. This will take me a while to do, but I see another long chrono session in the future.